April 12, 2011

Astronomical distances

If 50 years ago we had a state-of-the-art spaceship, and if we launched a flight to the nearest star (at the same time as Gagarin’s flight), where would we be now? Already there and back, right? No. Or maybe halfway there? No! The answer is: We would have travelled 0.03% of the way. I just did the math. It would take us 150,000 years to get there. And I am not counting the costs.

I know at the time Mr. Gagarin made his trip in to space it was considered a bad thing to be proud of him and the Russians. However, as a Human being first and an American second. They did the human race proud and they did something important. At the time everyone may have had a narrow view on the situation, but I am proud of us Human’s for doing as well as we have been.

Of course had Photoshop been available then we could have just cloned him in to space. :)